You may also recognize it from the Def Leppard album Slang.
Truth be told, this is where my mind and heart is right now. Let me also add, spiritually.
A couple of days ago, I was reading from Matthew 24:12 which says (Jesus speaking) "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
Looking back i can say that the love within me has started to grow cold, due to all of the ugliness of mankind around me. My heart has become cynical and judgmental of many and it has caused me to become more jaded in my dealings with others. This is definitely a side effect of my lack of dedication to guarding my relationship with God in heaven.
Here is the chorus from Def Leppard's song:
Here is the chorus from Def Leppard's song:
Every word you whisper
All the tears you hide
You die for love when it's alive
But where does love go when it dies
As much as it pains me to put these words out there for all the world to see, I cannot carry on as if nothing has happened. Many nights have come and gone and all I find is silence. Bad decision making has marked my spiritual downfall. I don't always find solace in the Bible, my prayer life has been focused on me about 90% of the time and my reaching out to others has slowed.
Going back to the afformentioned verse from Matthew, I see that having my attention on the acts of others, I allowed the enemy of my soul, Satan, to gain a foot hold in the hedge God had placed around me. The pain of separation has only increased day-by-day.
The overall theme of Matthew 24 is the last days of this present world before the return of Jesus to rapture the church. A lost physical love can be a crushing experience to anyone. It often leads to lamenting and looking back and asking "what if?" Eventually, the pain becomes more manageable and someone else comes along that helps the healing process. A new love.
Does it work the same with a lost spiritual love? No, it does not.
A few weeks ago my Pastor mentioned to me, that in the current climate of the world it will be harder and harder to maintain our spiritual discipline and keep our eyes on the Lord.
That is what Satan wants and he seems to be getting.
Jesus offers the solution in the following verse (13) "But he that endures unto the end, the same shall be saved." With Spirit-given understanding, I can see two levels to this verse.
First, if I can endure this current season of uncertainty, drought and famine, God will save me from the hand of Satan.
Second, if I can endure the current climate and direction of this world which is leading many down the path of darkness and hell, I too shall be delivered (saved) from the wrath to come.
What can I do to come back to my first love? I first need to repent. God has been cast aside by me, in favor of people, books and other interests. Second, I need to recommit myself to God and His Word and allow His Holy Spirit to lead me daily.
It will not be easy. Satan has designs for me and not with good intentions. He desires that I walk away from my faith and destroy my relationship with God, trying to make void the work of the Cross of Calvary and the blood Jesus shed for me.
Let's go back to chorus above and the reason for this post. Def Leppard in the song never truly answers the question of Where does love go when it dies?
Where did my love go when it died? Nowhere, because the void within could only be filled by ONE person. And that person is the MOST HIGH GOD. I can find love and pleasure in this world, and for a time be happy. But will I be content? No.
My greatest satisfaction has always come from the Lord. Once, I realized I needed him. It is in those precious moments of fellowship and communion that I find my true worth and realize that according to Jeremiah 31:3 I truly am loved with an everlasting love.
If you ever feel as if you can never find love, just think about what kind of love are you looking for?
God's promises to me can also be for you.
God draws humanity to Himself with merciful love. A love that does not requiring anything in return. A love that is freely given.
In closing, Where does love go when it dies? For God, His love died on a Cross, was buried in a grave and rose again three days later. That same love is now seated on the right hand of the Father. Eternal love does not die. Take stock of your life and realize that God is all that we need. God is who and what we are looking for to fulfill that space we have within us that continually feels empty.
